Nepean - Carleton

After meeting with Pierre Poilievre, M.P. for Nepean Carleton, a constituent received this very familiar looking letter. If other people have received similar letters, I am curious to hear your stories.

Dear <constituent name>

Thank you for your correspondence on this important issue. Your thoughts and ideas are important to me. I apologize for my delayed response.

Thank you for your recent email concerning copyright laws, bill C-60 and my views on the impact in Canada regarding these important issues.

Copyright Information

New Democrats have traditionally expressed support for measures that protect the rights of creators, and ensure that their work is valued and compensated, whether it appears on the radio, in print media, on the internet or elsewhere.

New Democrats have also expressed that any copyright legislation needs to balance the rights of creators, users and distributors. Creators must be fairly compensated for their work, and only a creator can waive that right. At the same time, users need fair access, in order to encourage a vital Canadian culture. We would support legislative measures that involve a careful balancing of all of these factors.

Are you interested in meeting with people who are both politically active and interested in technology issues? People that will be talking about copyright, software patents, and other such issues during the election? If you are in the Ottawa area, come join us at the weekly GOSLING gaggle.

;:I am a carpenter, not a regular computer user so have not given these issues sufficient investigation to offer an informed opinion and I am unlikely to do so during my limited spare time during this election.

National ID cards: What is your position on National ID cards?

;:Regarding national ID cards I am totally opposed, Firstly for reasons of personal privacy and my antipathy to any move by government towards a police state. I consider national ID cards to be a serious move in that direction. Just because the Americans have gone insane does not mean that we have to follow suit.